An estranged couple 'hoarded' 73 cats found suffering in a filthy flat which reeked of urine and had faeces all over the floor.

A number of them had to be put down because they were too poorly and one had to have its eye removed, a court heard.

Rescuers wearing special masks were left stunned after finding the animals in horrific conditions under the care of pensioners David and Penelope O’Dell in East Looe, Cornwall.

Litter trays were overflowing onto the floor, there was a thick layer of cat hair over the carpet, there were scratch marks all over walls and there was a foul smell of ammonia from urine, the Herald reports.

There was "nowhere clean" for the animals to go to the toilet or even sit and many were suffering health problems.

A number of cats had to be euthanised after being found in the flat (Image: The Herald)

Two cats were found cuddling as investigators went through the home (Image: The Herald)

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The O'Dells, who are both in their 70s, have now been banned from keeping animals for life after pleading guilty to charges relating to the cats' welfare.

Bodmin Magistrates’ Court heard that the flat was “thick with fur”, had 10 litter trays overflowing with faeces and smelt so strongly of ammonia that RSPCA officers had to wear special masks inside the property.

As a result of the neglect, a number of cats had to be put down because they were too poorly, the court heard.

A Manx cat called Piri Piri had a painful prolapsed rectum which a vet operated on twice, but she had to be euthanised. The vet estimated that Piri Piri had suffered for about 46 weeks.

There was "nowhere clean" for the cats to sit or go to the toilet (Image: The Herald)

Ten cats had severe eye infections including one which had a corneal ulcer and had to have its eye removed.

Sixteen were so badly matted that they needed grooming under anaesthetic and 35 had mites or ear problems.

A vet who had prepared a report for the RSPCA said the cats were mating and giving birth inside the flat, in Pendrim Road, and one had an infected womb.

Investigators say there was a foul smell of ammonia from cat urine (Image: The Herald)

“[This was a] typical hoarding situation, the cats were subjected to a very stressful life, [and this] affected their immunity.”

The RSPCA found the shocking conditions on September 7 last year.

Lindi Meyer, for the RSPCA, said: “Some [cats] were petrified and hid in rotten draws. [There was] nowhere clean [for the cats] to toilet or any clean area to lie down. Some were mating. None [of the cats were] neutered. [There was] no ventilation.

“Health issues were clear - many had fleas, some had swollen ears, infected eyes, some [were] matted, some were very thin.”

In his interview, David O’Dell said he wasn’t responsible for the cats, but was looking after both Penelope O’Dell and the cats because she had broken her leg 16 weeks before the hoard was rescued.

The court heard that there were claw marks on walls within the flat (Image: The Herald)

The court heard that Penelope O’Dell “checked the cats regularly” because they were “her life”, but because of her leg injury, she was physically unable to go to David’s flat and check on them whilst she was recovering.

The estranged couple said they weren’t aware of the overpowering ammonia smell in the flat.

Ms Meyer added that the pair were “well-intentioned but [had given] completely incompetent care”, stating that all of the cats were suffering to various degrees resulting in a number which had to be euthanised.

Both the O’Dell’s told the court that they had been through troubling times with family bereavements and poor health in the lead up to the cats being rescued.

In a statement, David O’Dell wrote: “I can only agree the flat was unsuitable for the cats. [I had] poor health, a lack of money and bereavement. [I was] not able to keep [the] property up to standard. If animals did suffer I’m sorry.”

Penelope O’Dell said that she “genuinely didn’t know” what to do about her situation.

Carpet inside the home in East Looe was covered in cat fur (Image: The Herald)

In her statement, she wrote: “I love my cats [and I have] cared for them diligently. Unfortunately when [my] mum died [the] property deteriorated and [I had] too many cats.

“I was embarrassed as to how the flat had deteriorated as a whole. I didn’t want to invite anyone in, not even family.

“I’m heartbroken and devastated. I never want something like this to happen again.”

David O’Dell admitted failing to provide a suitable environment for the cats and failing to meet the need to prevent pain, suffering, or care for them appropriately.

Penelope O’Dell admitted to the same two charges as well as a third charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by failing to provide adequate veterinary care.

The pair were handed a 12 week suspended prison sentence for 18 months, and ordered to pay £450 each.

David and Penelope O'Dell have been banned from keeping pets (Image: The Herald)

The O’Dell’s are also disqualified from owning, keeping, looking after or participating and or being party to any arrangement for any pets for life.

The earliest application they can make to be reconsidered for keeping animals will be in 10 years’ time.

RSPCA inspector Claire Ryder, said: “This was a really sad case where things had got totally out of hand. Please think about neutering your cats and don’t go out and buy a cat, rescue from a shelter.”

Ruth Rickard, assistant manager of Gables Farm which took in more than 20 of the cats, added: “The local RSPCA inspectors know that we like to help some difficult and harder to rehome cats and dogs.

“We work closely with them and are lucky that Gables is so well supported by the public.

“Claire Ryder rang me at first and asked for help with these cats and thought there were about 20, so I said Gables would take 10 - but the next day she said there were over 50 cats living in squalor, so I said we would take 20 just to get them out.

“We emptied our isolation block to accommodate the cats together in pairs just in case there were any health problems.

“Inside the house was horrific, the smell was just a stench of ammonia and cat faeces. There was nowhere clean for the cats to sit and they were terrified and just running around. We quickly, gently and carefully caught 20 cats.

“The cats were so matted they all had to be shaved under sedation and several had claws so long they were embedded into their feet.

“We then agreed to take the last four a couple of days later as there was nowhere else for them to go.

“We have rehomed all but two - Inferno is in a temporary foster home as [he] needed extra TLC and Flyover is at Gables.

“The first month we cared for them with a hands off approach - gradually with lots of patience and cat treats they started to get braver and affectionate.”